Tubular connector for expansion joints

ABSTRACT

An expansion joint for joining adjacent ends of a pair of ducts wherein the expansion joint comprises a tubular connector having a turnable flange that is attached directly to the flange of each duct. Also, the tubular connector is made by a process which permits the folding thereof in sheetlike form.

United States Patent Pintard et al.

[ 5] Mar. 7, 1972 [54] TUBULAR CONNECTOR FOR EXPANSION JOINTS [72]Inventors: Frederick Bruce Pintard, Somerville; George Michael Mollick,Middlesex, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Johns-Manville Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: July 24,1969

[21] Appl. No.: 844,478

[52] US. Cl ..285/229, 138/119, 156/196, 285/235, 285/405 [51] Int. Cl..Fl6l51/02 [58] Field of Search ..285/229, 235, 260, 55, 424, 285/236,405; 138/109, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,508,587 4/1970 Mauch..138/119 3,343,567 9/1967 Mulligan et al. ..138/119 3,557,275 1/1971Longshaw et al. ...138/109 X 2,866,479 12/1958 Mahady et a1. ...285/235X 1,626,772 5/1927 Worden ...285/229 X 2,088,922 8/1937 Porteous..285/55 2,371,556 3/1945 Stefiens et al. ..285/55 3,099,467 7/1963Godshalk... ...285/229 X 3,365,217 1/1968 Cooper ..285/229 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,064,086 12/ 1953 France ..285/229 763,97212/1956 Great Britain.... ....285/229 540,409 10/1941 Great Britain..285/236 Primary Examiner-Thomas F. Callaghan Attorney-John A. McKinneyand Robert M. Krone [57] ABSTRACT An expansion joint for joiningadjacent ends of a pair of ducts wherein the expansion joint comprises atubular connector having a turnable flange that is attached directly tothe flange of each duct. Also, the tubular connector is made by aprocess which permits the folding thereof in sheetlike form.

8 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 SHEET 1 OF 3 Q 11 m 11 O0 0 o O 0 l B xq /7 A ID \4 klwLwlwLiwh 9 I A X I I l I l l II 0 o o o oa m INVEN'I'ORS, FREDERICK BRUCE Pm TARD GEORGE M/a/zm M011 mg K 1 ID.

D 0 o 0%.. o o o. M a 5 ID ll lhr llwll llwllwll C, o o Jm o m w o o d AT oRA/Ev TUBULAR CONNECTOR FOR EXPANSION JOINTS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an article of manufacture foreliminating the necessity of intermediate metal flanged connectors forconnecting flanged ducts to form a heat-expandable joint, particularlythose expandable joints made of a heatresistant fabric.

Prior to this invention, heat expansion joints for joining separateconventional metal ducts having a metal flange at each end of adjacentducts required the tubular connector for each expansion joint to besecured to a separate metal flange so that the heat expansion joint wasformed by attaching each metal flange of the tubular connector to one ofthe separate duct flanges in a face to face relationship. Such prior artjoint flanges were secured to the expansion joint material forming thetubular connector by appropriate means known to the art such as bybolting, and the metal flange of the tubular connector was thereafter(when the joint was assembled) bolted to the metal duct flange. Typicalprior art expansion joints having the metal flange attached to each endthereof include those marketed by .lohns-Manville under the tradedesignation J-M Model A25() and J-M Model B-500 The cost of suchintermediate metal flanges for the joining of duct work addedconsiderably to the cost of inserting expansion joints, as well asadding to the weight, the space required, and the time and expense ofjoining the intermediate flange to the joint prior to the joining of thejoint flange to the flange of the duct work. Also, prior art and/orconventional metal flange connectors are bulky and expensive totransport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide anexpansion joint comprising a tubular connector which can be bolteddirectly to existing duct work flanges thereby eliminating the need ofthe metal angle and frame required by the standard prior art tubularconnectors.

Another object is a tubular connector having a margin thereof bendableoutward at about right angles to an opposite margin thereof, whereby thebendable margin is formable into a substantially flat face for matingwith the flat face of the duct work flanges.

Another object is a process of making the above tubular connector.

Another object is a flexible and lightweight duct connector and jointthat is easily folded and transported.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and followingdisclosure.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in accordance with the instantinvention by a tubular connector comprising a flexible heat-resistantmaterial which is particularly suited for joining adjacent sections ofduct which have angularly related sides. Ducts of this nature aregenerally formed with flanges having flat surfaces extending at a ninetydegree angle to the direction of flow of fluid through the duct. Theinstant invention provides a tubular connector for this duct whereby thetubular connector may be packaged and shipped to the job site in a flatpackage. At the job site, the tubular connector is readily formed into ashape corresponding to the duct and with flat surfaces extending at theninety degree angle in relation to the flow of the fluid through theduct and the expansion joint. The flat surfaces of the tubular connectormate with the flat surfaces of the flanges and are readily securedthereto by conventional means such as nuts and bolts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. IA, B, C, and D illustrate foursheets of substantially identical flexible material which sheets may bejoined at their edges to one another to form a flexible tubularconnector of this invention;

FIGS. IIA AND B illustrate a typical appearance of a flexible tubularconnector of this invention before and after the end portion is foldedback;

FIGS. IIIA-F illustrate flexible corner connectors and how they are usedin forming tubular connectors wherein;

FIG. IIIB illustrates the manner of placing the flexible comer connectorof FIG. "IA in the corner of FIG. IIB conduit between the matingportions 6 and 6' of sheets C and D;

FIG. IIIC illustrates two flexible corner connectors joined by anintegral strip;

FIG. IIID illustrates a sheet of flexible material suitable for forminga flexible expansion conduit having a channel of substantially squarecross section, prior to attaching and sealing thereto a plurality offlexible corner connectors, such as illustrated in FIG. IIIC, to producethe product illustrated in FIG. IlIE which may then be joined atopposite ends to form a square tubular connector;

FIG. IIIF illustrates in section the appearance of both ends of onecorner of a flexible tubular connector produced from the sheetillustrated in FIG. IIIE;

FIG. IVA illustrates a typical prior art expansion joint of eitherrectangular or square cross section, connecting two separate ducts;

FIG. IVB illustrates two separate flanged ducts connected by a tubularconnector of this invention; and

FIG. V is a tubular connector folded in flat form for packag-DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It should be understood thatalthough the figures discussed above illustrate primarily joints of thefour-cornered expansion joint type and illustrate primarilyexpansion-type joints having a square or rectangular cross section, itis within the scope of this invention to employ joints having crosssection of three or more corners, such as three, four, five, and thelike, for joints of any desired type, the illustrated expansion jointsmerely being a preferred type for embodiments of this invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubular connector forcooperating with adjacent ducts to form an expansion joint comprises aflexible fabric material. This fabric material is of a type well knownin the prior art, resistant to temperatures ranging up to at least 250F. for a large number of hours, such as about 400 to 1,000 hours. Otherfabric materials or other materials of a flexible nature resistant totemperatures up to about 750 F. or higher, such materials also beingwell known in the prior art, may also be used. Although the sheetmaterial from which the flexible tubular connector of this invention iscomposed may be of any suitable flexible material, such as formable andbendable metal, it is preferred that the material comprises a flexiblebut substantially resilient and formable rubber sheet material such as arubberized fabric, such as a neoprene asbestos cloth. Other typical andpreferred heat resistant fabrics include glass cloth, wire-mesh cloth,and the like.

Referring to FIGS. IA, B, C, and D, there are illustrated four cutsheets A, B, C, and D, which when combined in an end-toend relationshipform a tubular connector for an expansion joint of the type illustratedin FIG. IVB. For example, the edge of the central portion 9 fabric A isjoined and sealed by appropriate means such as with neoprene cement, tothe edge of the central portion 9 of fabric B. Similarly, the edge offabric A along the central portion 10 is joined to the edge of fabric Calong the central portion 10', the edge of the central portion 1 1 offabric C is joined to the edge of the central portion 11 of fabric D,and the edge of the central portion 12 of fabric D is joined to edge 12of fabric B. Thereby, the corner I of fabric A meets the corner I offabric B, the corner 2 of fabric A meets the corner 2' of fabric B, thecorner of fabric A meets the corner 3' of fabric C, the corner 4 offabric A meets the comer 4 of fabric C, the corner 5 offabric C meetsthe corner 5 of fabric D, the corner 6 of fabric C meets the corner 6'of fabric D, the corner 7 of fabric D meets the corner 7' of fabric B,and corner 8 of fabric D meets the corner 8 of fabric B. The angle 13 isabout and the angle 13 is about 45.

FIGS. IIA and IIB illustrate the shaped appearance of the tubularconnector with the flexible corner connector means attached to thefabric sheets A, B, C, and D and with the flexible and bendableconnector means bent outwardly to form a flat base identified typicallyas 33 and 34. FIG. IIA illustrates the appearance of the flexibletubular connector prior to bending outward to form the flat faces 33 and34 which may be placed flush with the face of the flange member of aduct and bolted thereto by passing bolts through the holes 64 and 65provided therefor.

FIG. IIIA illustrates a flexible comer connector of this inventioncomprising a strip 16 integral with and between two portions 17 and 18.The strip 16 is bendable along dotted line 19. Angle 14 is about 90, andangle 14 is about 45. A corner connector of this type is used as areinforcement for and securement, of the adjacent mated corners of theflexible sheets A, B, C and D ofFIG. I.

The tubular connector illustrated in FIGS. IIA and IIB is preferablyformed from sheets of the type illustrated in FIGS. IA, B, C, and D.Sheet A of FIG. IA would be placed over sheet B of FIG. IB with thecomers 1 and l central portions 9 and 9, and corners 2 and 2 insuperposed position. A suitable means would be used to secure thecorresponding edges of central portions 9 and 9', between the dottedlines a and b, to each other. Such means could comprise a suitablecement applied to the adjacent edges of the sheets However, thepreferred way is to use a boot of flexible material, such as rubber,which is secured to the outer surfaces of the central portions 9 and 9'between the dotted lines a and b. Such boot 70 and reinforcing strips 71are illustrated in the folded tubular connector in FIG. V. A flexiblecorner connector of the type illustrated in FIG. IIIA is then foldedalong the dotted line 19 and placed in position between the superposedcorners l and l' and 2 and 2'. A suitable cement would be used to securethe surface of portion 17 to the adjacent surface of portion 1 and thesurface 18 to the adjacent surface of portion 1 Each corner would thenbe formed in a similar manner such as by next superposing corners 3 over3, central portions over 10 and corners 4 over 4 and repeating theforegoing securing steps. When all of the corners have been joined inthe manner described above, the tubular connector may be folded alongsides A and D and then in half upon itself into a relatively flatpackage as illustrated in FIG. V so that the four edges of therectangularly shaped tubular connector are superposed.

It is noted that the corner connector is positioned between and securedto the inner surfaces of the superposed sheets A and B. This is done sothat when the tubular connector is folded back to form the flangedportions, the corners will present a uniform and integral surface to besecured to the flanged ends of the duct. If the corner connector wereplaced over and secured to the outer surfaces of the superposed sheets Aand B, there would be an open passageway through which fluid couldescape when the tubular connector was folded back to form the flangedportions. The strip 16 of the comer connector functions to provide meansfor insuring a fluid tight seal along the mating corners l and l, 2 and2 with adjacent portions of the central portions 5! and 9'. In generalpractice the strip 16 is in sealing relationship with the means used tojoin central portions 9 and 9.

Another modification of a tubular connector for use in forming anexpansion joint of the instant invention is illustrated in FIG. IIIFwhich shows one corner of the tubular connector for an expansion joint.The tubular connector illustrated in FIG. IIIF is made, as illustratedin FIGS. IIID and E, by taking a strip of flexible material 45 andcutting a plurality of space slits 46 along each of the longitudinaledges thereof. A cutout 46a is made in each corner so as to form a slithaving dimensions similar to slit 46 when the edges 51 and 51 of thesheet 45 are mated together in adjacent edge to edge relationship. Theflexible comer connector for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. IIIF isillustrated in FIG. IIIC and comprises two comer connectors of the typesimilar to that illustrated in FIG. IIIA joined by an integral stripI611. The corner connector illustrated in FIG. IIIC is adapted to befolded along the dotted line 16b.

In forming the embodiment illustrated in FIG. IIIE, a corner connectorof the type illustrated in FIG. IIIC is folded along the dotted line16b. The sheet 45 is folded along one of the dotted lines 46b and thefolded corner connector is placed so that the adjacent edges 42 and 42and 54 and 54' extend through the slits 46. A suitable cement is thenused to bond surface 48 to an adjacent surface of the sheet 45 andsurface 47 to an adjacent section of the surface 45. Likewise, surfaces49 and 50 are cemented to adjacent surfaces of the sheet 45. Also, thesurfaces of strip 16a are cemented to the adjacent surfaces of the strip45 along the folded line 46b. This procedure is repeated for the othertwo fold lines 46b so as to form the product illustrated in FIG. IIIE.The edges 50 and 51 are then brought into adjacent relationship andanother comer connector used to secure these surfaces together tocomplete the expansion conduit. Reinforcing strips 52, as illustrated inFIG. IIIF, are then secured to the outer surfaces of the sheet 45 In theforegoing descriptions of the tubular connector for an expansion jointas illustrated in FIG. IIB and IIIF, it is understood that in allinstances either the flexible corner connector of FIG. IIIA or FIG. IIICmay be used.

' FIGS. IVA and [VB illustrate expansion joints of the old and new type.As illustrated in FIG. IVA, adjacent ducts 63 having flanges 64 areconnected by a tubular connector 55. The flexible portion of the tubularconnector 55 is connected by nuts and bolts to a member 65 having aflange 66 for mating with the flange 64. The flanges 64 and 66 are thensecured together by suitable nuts and bolts.

As illustrated in FIG. IVB, the adjacent ducts 63 having the flanges 64'are connected by a tubular connector 55' of the instant invention. Asillustrated in FIG. IVB, the tubular connector 55' has been folded backalong the edges thereof so as to form a flat surface such as thatillustrated in FIG. [IA as 33 and 34 for mating with the flat surfacesof the flanges 64. The tubular connector is then secured directly to theflanges 64. In all instances a strip 67 is used to insure a fluid tightseal between the flexible tubular connector and the adjacent flangesurfat es under the pressure applied through the nuts and bolt.

Tubular connectors for expansion joints of the type illustrated in FIGS.IIB and IIIF having a 3 feetX3 feet rectangular opening were formed fromsheet material comprising a neoprene asbestos cloth having a thicknessof one-eighth inch. The tubular connectors were connected to a simulatedduct system having cycling means so as to move the adjacent ductsections toward and away from each other to simulate the effect oftemperature change under operating conditions. The duct system,including the tubular connectors, was subjected to an internal pressureof about 1.0 to L5 p.s.i. with a leakage test pressure of about 3.0p.s.i. The system was maintained at a temperature of 250 F. and wascycled once every 55 seconds to simulate change from ambient temperatureto 250 F. The expansion joint functioned satisfactorily without leakageor rupture for about 462 hours and 30,000 cycles.

We claim:

1. An expansion joint comprising:

a. a pair of adjacent ducts each having a flanged end,

b. a tubular connector having a specific configuration and wallstructure and being made from a flexible fabric material such that saidtubular connector may be easily folded in flat form for packaging andshipping and then unfolded to be positioned between said ducts,

c. said tubular connector having bendable terminal end portions adaptedto be folded back to form flanged portions for mating with said flangedends ofsaid ducts,

d. said bendable terminal end portions when folded back being continuousin a circumferential direction, and

e. means securing said tubular connector through its terminal endportions folded back providing said flanged portions to said flangedends of said ducts.

2. An expansionjoint as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a. said flanged end of said duct has surfaces lying in a plane passingthrough said duct in a direction transverse to the direction of the flowof fluid through said duct; and

b. said terminal end portions folded back providing flanged portions ofsaid tubular connector have surfaces lying generally in a plane which issubstantially parallel to said plane of said surfaces of said duct.

3. An expansion joint as defined in claim 2 wherein:

a. the transverse cross sectional configuration of said flanged ends ofsaid duct is generally rectangular, and

b. the transverse cross sectional configuration of said terminal endportions folded back providing the flanged portions of said tubularconnector is generally rectangular.

4. An expansion joint as defined in claim 3 wherein:

a. each of said terminal end portions folded back providing the flangedportions of said tubular connector has surfaces meeting at cornerintersections, and

b. each of said corner intersections has an integral surface facing saidflanged end of an adjacent duct.

5. In an expansion joint for joining flanged ends of adjacent ducts, theimprovement comprising:

a. a tubular connector having a specific configuration and wallstructure and being made from a flexible rubberized fabric material suchthat said tubular connector may be easily folded in flat form forpackaging and shipping and then unfolded to be positioned between saidducts,

b. said tubular connector having bendable terminal end portions adaptedto be folded back to form flanged portions for mating with said flangedends of said ducts,

c. said bendable terminal end portions when folded back being continuousin a circumferential direction, and

d. means securing said tubular connector through its terminal endportions folded back providing said flanged portions to said flangedends of said ducts.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein:

a. the transverse cross sectional configuration of said terminal endportions folded back providing flanged portions of said tubularconnector is generally rectangular.

7. In an expansion joint for joining flanged ends of adjacent ducts, theimprovement comprising:

a. a tubular connector comprising a flexible material,

b. said tubular connector having terminal end portions adapted to befolded back to form flanged portions for mating with said flanged endsof said ducts,

c. said terminal end portions when folded back forming flanged portionsbeing continuous in a circumferential direction,

d. the transverse cross sectional configuration of said terminal endportions folded back providing flanged portions of said tubularconnector being generally rectangular and having comers,

e. each of said folded back flanged portions with corners comprising twoedges of flexible material in adjacent but spaced relationship,

f. a flexible corner connector secured to the surfaces of said flexiblematerial adjacent said edges, and

g. means securing said tubular connector through its terminal endportions folded back forming flanged portions of said tubular connectorto said flanged ends of said ducts.

8. An expansion joint as defined in claim 7 wherein said comer connectorcomprises:

a. an end section for a corner at each axial extremity of said tubularconnector, and b. a strip of flexible material connecting said endportions.

1. An expansion joint comprising: a. a pair of adjacent ducts eachhaving a flanged end, b. a tubular connector having a specificconfiguration and wall structure and being made from a flexible fabricmaterial such that said tubular connector may be easily folded in flatform for packaging and shipping and then unfolded to be positionedbetween said ducts, c. said tubular connector having bendable terminalend portions adapted to be folded back to form flanged portions formating with said flanged ends of said ducts, d. said bendable terminalend portions when folded back being continuous in a circumferentialdirection, and e. means securing said tubular connector through itsterminal end portions folded back providing said flanged portions tosaid flanged ends of said ducts.
 2. An expansion joint as defined inclaim 1 wherein: a. said flanged end of said duct has surfaces lying ina plane passing through said duct in a direction transverse to thedirection of the flow of fluid through said duct; and b. said terminalend portions folded back providing flanged portions of said tubularconnector have surfaces lying generally in a plane which issubstantially parallel to said plane of said surfaces of said duct. 3.An expansion joint as defined in claim 2 wherein: a. the transversecross sectional configuration of said flanged ends of said duct isgenerally rectangular, and b. the transverse cross sectionalconfiguration of said terminal end portions folded back providing theflanged portions of said tubular connector is generally rectangular. 4.An expansion joint as defined in claim 3 wherein: a. each of saidterminal end portions folded back providing the flanged portions of saidtubular connector has surfaces meeting at corner intersections, and b.each of said corner intersections has an integral surface facing saidflanged end of an adjacent duct.
 5. In an expansion joint for joiningflanged ends of adjacent ducts, the improvement comprising: a. a tubularconnector having a specific configuration and wall structure and beingmade from a flexible rubberized fabric material such that said tubularconnector may be easily folded in flat form for packaging and shippingand then unfolded to be positioned between said ducts, b. said tubularconnector having bendable terminal end portions adapted to be foldedback to form flanged portions for mating with said flanged ends of saidducts, c. said bendable terminal end portions when folded back beingcontinuous in a circumferential diRection, and d. means securing saidtubular connector through its terminal end portions folded backproviding said flanged portions to said flanged ends of said ducts. 6.The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. the transverse crosssectional configuration of said terminal end portions folded backproviding flanged portions of said tubular connector is generallyrectangular.
 7. In an expansion joint for joining flanged ends ofadjacent ducts, the improvement comprising: a. a tubular connectorcomprising a flexible material, b. said tubular connector havingterminal end portions adapted to be folded back to form flanged portionsfor mating with said flanged ends of said ducts, c. said terminal endportions when folded back forming flanged portions being continuous in acircumferential direction, d. the transverse cross sectionalconfiguration of said terminal end portions folded back providingflanged portions of said tubular connector being generally rectangularand having corners, e. each of said folded back flanged portions withcorners comprising two edges of flexible material in adjacent but spacedrelationship, f. a flexible corner connector secured to the surfaces ofsaid flexible material adjacent said edges, and g. means securing saidtubular connector through its terminal end portions folded back formingflanged portions of said tubular connector to said flanged ends of saidducts.
 8. An expansion joint as defined in claim 7 wherein said cornerconnector comprises: a. an end section for a corner at each axialextremity of said tubular connector, and b. a strip of flexible materialconnecting said end portions.